Aussie sues over racist taunts

g'day sport

Geoff Stephens is taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Source: Daily Mail




AN Australian community warden who claimed he was racially abused by colleagues who constantly greeted him with ‘G’day Sport’ is taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights.


Geoff Stephens, who has been in the UK for 27 years after leaving Australia when he was 22 years old, claimed he suffered a barrage of abuse from co-workers for being Australian.

The 49-year-old worked as a community warden battling anti-social behaviour in Dymchurch, Kent, for six years until he quit with depression in 2010.

He claimed that the “racism” and “bullying” he suffered at work “would eventually have killed him” and that he constantly asked colleagues to stop making jokes about him being an Aussie.

The former immigration worker went on sick leave in August 2010 with depression after the taunts went on unabated.

Mr Stephens took Kent County Council to an employment tribunal in January this year but eventually lost his discrimination case and his appeal was thrown out.

But Adelaide-born Mr Stephens is taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights.

He said he believes Kent County Council chiefs monitored a string of private phone calls – including one he made to his doctor to find out if he was “genuinely sick”.

“I’m totally disappointed with the tribunal outcome but am really hopeful about Europe,” Mr Stephens said.

“The last few months have been a nightmare and my whole life has been turned upside down.

“I have transcripts which prove they listened to my private conversations, including one with my doctor to see if I was telling the truth about my health.

“I thought ‘strewth’, and couldn’t believe it when I realised. It’s a breach of my human rights under article 8, the right to privacy.”

Read more at dailymail.co.uk 

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